Firefighter Trainee

About the Department

An employee in this class is responsible for performing general firefighting and providing emergency medical care to patients at the accident or illness scenes.  Work involves preparing all equipment for responding to fire calls, fighting fires, fire salvage, and equipment and vehicle maintenance.  Work is often performed under stressful emergency conditions and frequently involves personal hazards.  Work standards and procedures are well established and understood; however, considerable independence and judgment are required of the employee during a fire call.   The employee is subject to hazards associated with firefighting and emergency care including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as exposure to high heat, exposure to chemicals, and in the proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, and working in high places.   Employee is also exposed to atmospheric conditions and is subject to the OSHA requirements on bloodborne pathogens, and is sometimes required to wear a respirator, and may be required to work in close quarters.  Work is reviewed by the fire scene commander as well as the Fire Battalion Chief through observation and discussions concerning the quality and effectiveness of fire and rescue efforts and through evaluation of the completion of training activities.  This classification is considered non-exempt in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Position Duties

• Provides responses to fires, emergency calls; administers life support techniques and procedures based on patient assessment, including all skills at the EMT level.
• Responds to alarms and assists in the suppression of fire including rescue, entry, and ventilation and salvage work.
• Provides responses to emergency calls and administers emergency medical care to include first aid, CPR, airway management, and oxygen administration.
• Operates fire and emergency medical equipment, as certified.
• Participates in post-fire operations of cleaning and salvage.
• Completes necessary records and reports for fire calls and emergency calls including information for billing documentation and legal accountability.
• Reports facility maintenance, radio, vehicle and equipment problems to appropriate level of authority.
• Performs routine maintenance and servicing of equipment including washing and waxing trucks, checking batteries, checking fuel and oil levels, cleaning and drying hoses, inspecting hose and hose connections for damage and wear.
• Attends in-service classes to maintain current knowledge of fire suppression and emergency medical technology; participates in physical training.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of the operation of firefighting equipment.
• Knowledge of modern firefighting principles, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of the geography of the City.
• Considerable knowledge of and skill in administering emergency medical procedures and techniques and maintenance and repair of fire and EMT equipment.
• Considerable knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
• Skill in recognizing patient trauma and signs and symptoms of medical emergencies to determine needed treatment.
• Skill in the use of firefighting equipment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in routine and emergency situations.
• Ability to accept firefighting discipline and operational routine.
• Ability to work with a diverse socio-economic population based on the unique situations encountered.
• Ability to maintain vehicles, equipment and facilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public and to maintain excellent physical condition.

Other Qualifications

Work in this class is described as heavy work.  An employeemust be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and perform repetitive motions.  An employee must possess the visual acuity to operate trucks and other equipment.  The employee is subject to hazards associated with firefighting and emergency care including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as exposure to high heat, exposure to chemicals, and in the proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, and working in high places.  Employee is also exposed to atmospheric conditions and is subject to the OSHA requirements on bloodborne pathogens, and is sometimes required to wear a respirator, and may be required to work in close quarters.